How do Adults with Learning Disabilities Experience Endings in Therapy

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  How do Adults with Learning Disabilities Experience Endings in Therapy

• IRAS ID

  144824

• Contact name

  Nessa O'Loughlin

• Contact email

  nessa.o'loughlin@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Tees Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

• Research summary

  The research aims to interview adults with a diagnosis of a Learning Disability, and explore their experiences of endings in psychological therapy. Theoretical and empirical writing on the area of endings in therapy with the mainstream population indicate that endings are considered an important part of the therapeutic process. However, to date, there has been no identified empirical research on endings in therapy from the perspectives of individuals with learning disabilities.

  A qualitative semi structured interview will be conducted with 6-10 clients who: have a diagnosis of a learning disability, as defined by the BPS (2001); who have capacity to consent to participate in the research; and who have had an ending in therapy of between 2 weeks and 6 months prior to the interview. The interview should take between 45 minutes to 90 minutes. The qualitative transcripts of the interviews will be analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), through which common themes will be identified and drawn from the data. Participants will be given the option of meeting again with the researcher to discuss the themes drawn from the data collected, at a later stage in the research process.

  The current research would aim not only highlight the client’s perspectives on endings in therapy, but would also aim to inform clinicians approaches to endings with this population. There may also be some immediate benefits to the participants, allowing them to have the opportunity to discuss something that may be potentially pertinent to them, and empowering them to have an active role in the research process, and potentially in future planning of endings in therapy for themselves and for others in a similar situation.

• REC name

  London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/LO/1301

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Jul 2014

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion